Think Secret says it is so and it would make so much sense that we think this is going to happen. Sometimes the timing is off, but I doubt it. After all, the Mac mini would have been out for a year. How long does it take to get all this DVR stuff right anyway?
It is supposed to be Intel-based. The main feature to me is that it is the right size and price for a living room computer. I want the power of a networkable computer to control my music, photo and video-watching. I want it to replace TIVO which I don't own. It will have an iPod dock built-in. A bigger than 80 gig hard drive. I'm guessing up to 250 gigs. That will be sufficient for this year's needs.
Ken "Caesar" Fisher at ars technica is skeptical about how a home entertainment center fits into Apple's plans. He has a point but the home entertainment center is a key location in music listening and media viewing. Convergence is going to happen and I don't see Steve allowing Microsoft to capture that turf unopposed. The introduction of Front Row in October was a pre-announcement as far as I'm concerned.
I wonder how one of these and an xBox 360 would work together? Wouldn't that be nice? Hmm... The mini 2 will have Intel inside after all... And the xbox plays well with the iPod.
More likely these 2 will compete to the death as would be the norm. It would be nice to see a little more friendly behavior on both sides but both Bill and Steve have the ultra-competitive gene.
Be that as it may, black is back and more black iPods are selling than white. There is no reason why we won't see a black iMac at the Expo this year or at least by mid-year. So, if you prefer black, you might want to wait. Forget that nice tax deduction you were thinking about. I've noticed a definite trend towards black recently in Apples packaging. What I really wonder about is, what they are going to do for an encore with the PowerMacs? Those are so gorgeous but awfully large.
Macsimumnews has a story about the prospect of black iMacs in 2006 and takes it one further by referring to some kind of patent Apple has for computers that can change colors. I'll settle for black, thanks.
Current Mac mini owners especially should check out this nice little article from 123Macmini.com called 10 Things Every Mac Owner Should Know. Other Mac users will also find it useful.